Some of Ed Miliband’s flagship policies have been derided as catastrophic, pathetic and “wishy-washy” by Labour’s own grass roots.

Party branches criticised policies on the economy, housing, welfare reform and education, as part of the party’s agenda review on the Your Britain website. The concerns echo remarks by Jon Cruddas, who is overseeing Labour’s policy review, who said this year that the party was focusing on “cynical” policies that “chime with focus groups”.

It came as an ICM poll gave Labour a seven-point lead over the Tories. This marks a turnaround, as Labour trailed the Tories by a percentage point